Leather staking machine



Jan. 19, 1943. w. B. QUINN LEATHER STAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 19, 1943.

W. B. QUINN LEATHER STAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Shem. 2

40 3': i 1 ZZ'IZQQ Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to leather staking machines, that is to say to apparatus adapted to assist in stretching hides and skins for the purpose of making the same more flexible and pliable, and for improving the shape of the same.

In the manufacture of leather from hides and skins, after the same are subjected to certain of the preliminary treatments, the same are in a hard and stiff condition, and it is well known that if the hides and skins, when in this condition, are stretched in all directions, the same will be rendered soft and pliable and, at the same time, the hides and skins may be brought to a shape more nearly approaching a rectangle, resulting in less loss in the subsequent cutting of the leather for utilization in various articles.

Heretofore no satisfactory machines have been devised for carrying out the staking operation and the same has usually been done largely by hand, requiring a considerable expenditure of energy by the operator as he draws the leather over a straight edge while pulling and stretching the same in the desired directions.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine to assist the operator in carrying out the staking operation, which machine is so constructed and arranged as to greatly minimize the amount of effort required on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character aforesaid, by means of which the staking operation will be more efliciently carried out, a more uniform stretching of the skins will be obtained, and the same brought to a more desirable shape, than is possible by means of the hand operations and machines heretofore available.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character aforesaid which will be readily adaptable for use in the manipulation of hides and skins of various shapes and sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character aforesaid in which the degree of force on the area of the skin operated upon may be readily and conveniently controlled by the operator, the action being, to a large extent, automatic.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure l is a vertical central section of a leather staking machine embodying the main features of the present invention;

Lil

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section thereof, taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

It should of course be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, 5 is a frame having a table top 6. A shaft 1 is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame. The shaft 1 is driven in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of the pulley 8 mounted on one end thereof. The shaft I has a drum 9 mounted thereon. The shaft 1 and the drum 9 are so positioned that the drum 9 extends upwardly through an opening 10 in the table to 6. The drum 9 is provided on its periphery with a plurality of suitably spaced blades ll extending transversely, and secured to the drum in any desired manner.

The table top 6 also has mounted thereon a pair of upwardly extending bracket members l2. Extending from each of said bracket members I2 is a forwardly projecting arm I3, the rear end of which is pivotally connected as at M to an extension [5 of the upper portion of the bracket member l2. Each of the arms I3 is supported intermediate its ends by a brace member [6, one end of which is pivotally connected, as at H, to said arm l3. The other end of said brace member 16 is adapted to be adjustably connected to the bracket member [2 by means of a pin [8, which may be selectively mounted in any one of the several apertures [9 provided on a portion of the bracket member 12. The foregoing arrangement is such that the arms [3 may be raised or lowered for a purpose to be presently explained.

The forward end of each of the arms I3 is provided with a downwardly extending portion 20 having a slot 2| in which is positioned a bush ing 22. The bushings 22 are carried on the ends of a shaft 23 upon which a pulley 24 is mounted. The pulley 24 is of a width corresponding to that of the drum 9 and a belt 25 of similar width extends over the pulley 24 which is disposed. toward the front of the machine. Said belt 25 also extends over a pulley 26 which is disposed toward the rear of the machine. The pulley 26 is mounted on a shaft 21. The pulley shafts 23 and 2'! are journalled in portions of a movable frame 23. The ends of the shaft 21 also extend a pulley 32 over which a belt 33 extends.

of driving the same when the main shaft I is rotating. The pulley 34 is mounted on a transverse shaft 35 provided at the rear of the frame work. The shaft 35 is journalled in suitable brackets 35 carried by the frame 5. The shaft 35 is also provided with a pulley 31 over which .a crossed belt 38 extends. The crossed belt 38 also passes over a pulley 39 which is mounted on the shaft 39 at the top of the machine. The upper shaft 39 is also provided with'a pulley 40' over which a belt 4| extends. The belt 4| passes to anddrives a pulley 42 mounted on the shaft 21 upon which the pulley 26 for the operating belt 25 is mounted. The foregoing arrangement is such thatwhen the drum 9'is rotated, the operating belt 25 will b-e'siinu'ltaneously rotated, and at the same speed as that'of the periphery of the drum 9. The movable frame 28,which supports the operating belt 25, is provided with rearward extensions .43, which are connected by links 44 to rods 45. Eachofsaid rods 45 is pivotally connected, as at 46, to a lever 41 which is mounted on the under side .of the table top 6 and pivoted thereto as at 48. Each of said-levers 41 has its other end pivotally connected, as at 49, to a rod 59 which extendsf'orwa-rdly to the front of the machine. A. transverse bar H is carried at. the forward ends of said rods 59, said bar being normally spaced a sufficient distance in front of the frame to" permit the operation, as will be presently explained. The foregoing arrangement is such that who pressure is imparted to the transverse bar and the same pushed inwardly, the movable frame 28 which carries theoperating belt 25wil1 be pushed forwardly, the movement of the frame 28 being guided by means of the links 29 at thev rear, and-the slots M in the front ends of the forwardly-projecting arms [3. u 7

At the forwardend of each side portion of the movable frame 281 there is provided an eye bolt 52, anda similareye bolt 53 is provided at the top of each bracket member l2 Coil springs 54 extend between the eye bolts 52 carried at the front asoasc i end of the movable frame 28 and the eye bolts 7 53 -,carried by the bracket members l2. The springs 54 serve to return the frame 28 to the inoperative position whenever the pressure on the-transverse bar 5| at the front of the machine is released. a I V To keep the operating belt 25 at all times under proper tension, and yet permit the same to engage a considerable number of the edgesof the blades l I carried by the drum- 9, as more particularly hereinafter. pointed out, there are provided a pair of tension rollers 55' which are carried by suitable links 55, pivoted as at 51, to lugs 58' projecting upwardly from the frame 28. Coil springs 59 extending between the links 56 The operation of the plained.

The machine is started by the application of power to the main shaft 1, the parts being in the positions shown in Fig. l of the drawings, whereupon the operator places a portion of the skin over the rotating drum 9 and also places another portion of the skin against the transverse bar 5|. Upon pressure being applied by the'bo dy of the operator to the bar 5|, with the device may now be exskin extending thereover, the movable frame 28 is moved forwardly by the action of the rods 45, levers 41, and rods 50. When this is done, the

a front end of the frame 28 is guided by the slots gripping action of the operating belt 25 on the portion of the skin which passes over the edges of the blades-H of the rotating drum 9. The

action proceeds by successively placing different portions of the skin between the operating belt 25 and the'edges of the blades H which are carried on the drum 9, the pressure being re leased at this point f whenever the pressure against the bar is relieved for the purpose 'of shifting the skin to a new position. V

It will of course be apparent that various skins will require treatment to a different: extent,

and for this, purpose the forwardly extending I arms l3 may be lowered by changing the location of the lower end of. the brace arm l6, placing the pins l8 in thedesired apertures l9in the lower portions of the bracket members [2. In this manner varying positions of the operating belt with respect to the drum are obtainable as are indicated in dotted lines in 1' of the drawings. Q M

It should be noted that the blades 1 I. carried by the. drum 9 are relatively close to. eachother so that there will be no tendency of the blades n to .cut the skin as it is grippedfor the purpose of stretching the same. However, these blades" I I will also serve to remove any fiesh portions which may be remaining on theskin at the time it is subjected to the staking operation in themachine.

Iclaim:

1. A leatherstaking machine comprising a rotating drum, an operatingbe'lt adapted to be brought into proximity to theperiphery'of said drum. thereby to grip a portion of, the skin being operated upon; and means including a member cause the slack in the belt 25 to be automaticalpositioned to be engaged by another portion of the skin and adaptedupon having pre'ssureimdrum, and means including a member positioned" to be engaged by another portion of the skin, and adapted upon having pressure imparted thereto to bring said belt into operative re'lationshinwith said drum, said member being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

3. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, and means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said drum including a transverse bar at the front of the machine over which another portion of the skin extends thereby to stretch the intermediate portion of the skin, said transverse bar being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

4. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the periphery of said drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the eriphery of said drum, and means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said drum including a transverse bar at the front of the machine over which another portion of the skin extends thereby to stretch the intermediate portion of the skin, said transverse bar being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

5. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, and means including a member positioned to be engaged by another portion of the skin to bring said belt into operative relationship with said drum when pressure is applied to said member, said member being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

6. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, a movable frame carrying said belt, and means including a member engaged by another portion of the skin for shifting said frame to bring said belt into operative relationship with said drum, said member being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

'7. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, a movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring said belt to various positions, and means including a member engaged by another portion of the skin for shifting said frame to bring said belt into operative relationship with said drum, said member being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

8. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, a movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring said belt to various positions, resilient means for retracting said belt to an inoperative position, and means including a member engaged by another portion of the skin for shifting said movable frame to bring said belt into operative relationship with said drum, said member being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto.

9. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, a movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring said belt to various positions, resilient means for retracting said belt to an inoperative position, means including a member engaged by another portion of the skin for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said drum, said member bein movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imparted thereto and means for adjusting the means for supporting and guiding the belt carrying frame thereby to vary the extent of possible engagement of the belt with the periphery of the drum.

10. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, 2. movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring said belt to various positions, resilient means for retracting said belt to an inoperative position, and means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said drum including a transverse bar at the front of the machine over which another portion of the skin extends thereby to stretch the intermediate portion of the skin, said transverse bar being movable inwardly toward the drum when pressure is imported thereto.

11. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely arranged on the periphery thereof, said blades being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same speed as the periphery of said drum, a movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring said belt to various positions, resilient means for retracting said belt to an inoperative position; means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said drum comprising an inwardly movable transs verse bar at the front of the machine over which another-portion of'the skin extends, and link work connecting said transverse bar and the belt'carrying frame't'herebyto stretch the intermediate portion of the skin when pressure is applied to said bar;

12: Aleather staking machine comprising a rotating drum having transversely disposed blades closely'a'rranged on the periphery thereof, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to'the: drum thereby togrip a portion of the skin being operated upon, means for driving said belt at substantially the same" speed as the periphery of said drum, a movable frame-carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring saidbelt to various positions, resilient means for retracting said belt to an inoperative position; means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said d'rum comprising an inwardly movable transverse bar at the front of the machine. over which another portion ofv the skin extends, and link work connecting said transverse bar and the beltrcarrying frame thereby to stretch the intermediate portion of the skin when pressure is applied to said bar; and means for adjust ing the means for supporting and guiding the belt carrying frame thereby to vary the extent of possible engagement of thebelt with the periphery of the drum.

13. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum, an operating belt adapted to be bfought o proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operated upon, a. V

movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guidingsaid frame to bring said belt to various positions: and means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with said drum comprising an inwardly movable transverse bar at the front of the machine over which another por: tion of the skin extends, and a connection between said transverse bar and the belt carrying frame thereby to stretch the intermediate portion of the skin when pressure is applied to said bar.

14. A leather staking machine comprising a rotating drum, an operating belt adapted to be brought into proximity to the drum thereby to grip a portion of the skin being operatedsupon, a

movable frame carrying said belt, means for supporting and guiding said frame to bring said belt to various positions, means for bringing said belt into operative relationship with saiddrum comprising an inwardly movable transverse bar atthe front of the machine over which another portion of the skin extends, and a connection between said transverse bar and the belt carrying frame thereby to stretch the intermediate portion of the skin when pressure is applied to said bar; and means for adjusting the meansfor supporting and uiding the belt carrying framethereby to vary the extent of possible engagement of the belt with the periphery of the drum.

WILLIAM B. QUINN. 

